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Been collecting more line laundry and inflatables, and wondering about placement on my kite lines. I have several parafoils, sleds and a mockform that I've been using for lifters. It seems that many times, the movement of the laundry is jerking and pulling the pilot kites around and causing everything to fall to the ground. Especially in not-so-smooth wind. Question: does attaching the laundry lower help with this? Usually fly the "pilot" around 100-125 feet, and have started attachments around half way between the kite and the ground. Should I be allowing more distance between the kite and laundry? Does it make much difference? On the inflatables, I have been using separate lines run through biners on the main line, and seem to encounter the same issues. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA Bill

Bill, You may have more laundry than pilot now. I'm no expert, but the closer something is to the lifter, the more it should be able to pull or effect it. What sort of laundry are you talking about?

Howdy,Using a 75 sq ft Bulldog, a 75 sq ft Gomberg Mega Sled, a 30 sq ft Para Sled, one of several 50 sq ft parafoils, or a 30 sq ft MockForm to lift a mid size Gecko, a mid size octopus, a 14 ft Scuba Guy, a 10 foot inflatable fish, ( all on individual fly lines attached to the main fly line with carabiners). At other times, things like a small "Skippy", or 36" diameter Spikey Balls, or a couple of home made smallish inflatable type animals. Usually just 2 or 3 pieces of laundry at one time on a single lifter.

One person suggested anchoring the laundry 3 - 4 meters in front of the lifter kite anchor.... how would this be of benefit?

My experience with line laundry would suggest that if the kite is being pulled down you have too much stuff on the line. As a rule of thumb, the lower to the ground, the more turbulent the wind, so you might try putting the lifter up higher and the laundry up higher as well. On the beach I had usually just put the lowest piece just high enough to fly safely above everyone's head. Inland, as I had said, try higher positions, and maybe less stuff.

... 36" diameter Spikey Balls, or a couple of home made smallish inflatable type animals. Usually just 2 or 3 pieces of laundry at one time on a single lifter.

If the flying line isn't forming close to a straight line between the ground and the lifter, you're probably putting too much laundry on the line. Some line laundry pieces (Spikey balls especially) have a HUGE amount of drag for their size and weight.

Does your flying line start nearly horizontal to the ground, then progressively get steeper from item to item until you reach the lifter? If so, the lifter is being overpowered

... 36" diameter Spikey Balls, or a couple of home made smallish inflatable type animals. Usually just 2 or 3 pieces of laundry at one time on a single lifter.

If the flying line isn't forming close to a straight line between the ground and the lifter, you're probably putting too much laundry on the line. Some line laundry pieces (Spikey balls especially) have a HUGE amount of drag for their size and weight.

Does your flying line start nearly horizontal to the ground, then progressively get steeper from item to item until you reach the lifter? If so, the lifter is being overpowered

OK! This makes alot of sense to me, and sounds like what has been going on.

Sooo, the idea is to fly the lifter higher, attach laundry lower, use less laundry per lifter,and get bigger kites. Sound like I'm getting it about right now?

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